Mawathagama Police have taken 14 individuals into custody in connection with the theft of an ancient Buddha statue from a temple located in Kahapathwala.
Police said investigations were launched after receiving information on 28 January 2026 regarding the disappearance of a Buddha statue from the monks’ residence at the Kebilithigoda Purana Raja Maha Viharaya, which falls under the Mawathagama Police Division.
Further inquiries revealed that on the night of the incident, four suspects had arrived at the temple posing as officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Claiming that the statue was required for official investigations, they had allegedly removed the 1½-foot-tall gold-colored Buddha statue from the premises.
Following extensive investigations, Mawathagama Police arrested 14 suspects in relation to the incident yesterday (31). Authorities also recovered the stolen Buddha statue along with two vans believed to have been used during the operation.
Police noted that the suspects, aged between 22 and 56, are residents of Minigamuwa, Theldeniya, Monaragala, Matugama, Matale, and Rideegama.
The suspects were produced before the Pilessa Magistrate’s Court yesterday and were remanded until 13 February 2026. Further investigations are continuing.
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